Activities of Norbert NEUSER related to 2020/2118(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 24-25 June 2021 – Relaunch of the Malta Declaration and the use of an effective solidarity mechanism (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on the role of the EU’s development cooperation and humanitarian assistance in addressing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic
Amendments (46)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
- having regard to the WFP Global Report on Food Crises 2020,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
- having regard to the report "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020",
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)
Citation 15 b (new)
- having regard to the Committee on World Food security (CFS) High level Panel of Experts' report on the "Impact of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition: developing effective policy responses to address the hunger and malnutrition pandemic",
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III 2021-2025 entitled ‘An ambitious agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action’,
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the needs of communities affected by extreme weather events, natural disasters and climate change;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the education and training systems across the world is likely unprecedented in contemporary history, with the closure of schools and training institutions affecting 94 % of the global learner population, according to UNESCO; whereas school closures due to the pandemic have deprived vulnerable children of school feeding and nutrition services that are essential to their health;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas education plays a key role in breaking the cycle of poverty and in reducing inequalities; whereas the target of SDG 4 is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and whereas this is essential for the achievement of other SDGs; whereas culture’s contribution to sustainable development is pointed out in several SDG targets, notably in SDG 4;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the medium-term consequences of COVID-19 are likely to have a devastating impact, reversing years of development gains and require unprecedented global cooperation;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the pandemic-induced crisis has accelerated the digital transition and the shift towards new learning tools such as remote and blended learning;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas it is crucial to acknowledge once more that achieving the 2030 Agenda SDGs and the Paris Agreement objectives require investing in human development and pursuing a rights-based approach, while respecting the Busan principles on development effectiveness;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes in this regard COVAX, the world's facility to ensure fair and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines and the strong support of Team Europe, being the biggest donor and having allocated so far more than 850 million euro to this initiative, while EU and third countries already announced to donate their vaccine surplus via COVAX; welcomes the WHO’s announcement that global rollout to 91 eligible countries starts in the first quarter of 2021 and that by now 2 billion vaccine doses are accessed; underlines that safe vaccines should be made universally available, affordable and easily accessible for all in order to curb the pandemic; stresses that health personnel and the most vulnerable have to be prioritised;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on Team Europe to strengthen effective mechanisms to ensure policy coherence for sustainable development, securing their more systematic and efficient use by all EU institutions and Member States; stresses that the EU should perform sustainability impact assessments in every policy sphere, including as regards its responses to the pandemic;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the momentum gained from the common Team Europe approach in terms of joint analysis, joint programming and joint implementation must translate into a new standard for cooperation in the fields of humanitarian aid and development policy, both in law and in practice, and calls on the EU and Member States to prioritise human development and health in their joint programming;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on EU donors to ensure that local civil society organisations and international NGOs working on the front line are funded to implement programs and projects tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences at community level, to reach people left furthest behind; underlines that in the absence of additional resources for the COVID-19 response and recovery, and with most funds going to geographic envelopes, ensuring optimal complementarity of the EU’s funding is crucial;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the European Commission to instruct EU delegations, in collaboration with Member States embassies, to develop ‘equality country profiles’ of partner countries to inform Team Europe initiatives and make sure they contribute to reducing inequalities and reach out to those furthest left behind or most at risk;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises the need to provide humanitarian assistance, such as staff and medical equipment, including personal protective equipment and test kits, to the most vulnerable populations; welcomes in this regard the setting up of the European Union Humanitarian Air Bridge 2020;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that pastoral farming is an ecologically sound, local method of food production and is therefore part of a sustainable food system; considers it essential to support pastoralists by ensuring safe access to local markets during the pandemic in order to make sure that they are able to continue to provide protein-rich food to the local population, that cross- border mobility of people and livestock is allowed, that their herds have access to water and grazing land and that mobile community one-health teams monitor the situation and carry out interventions in individual cases but also, where necessary, with a view to maintaining public health; calls for cash transfers and food aid for pastoralists, as well as feed aid for herds, as part of livelihood support in humanitarian ai in order to ensure the coverage of their basic needs, including food and feed, when this is needed;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the need to support the actions of the FAO and the WFPUN agencies, notably the FAO and the WFP, as well as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and international NGOs aimed at mitigating hunger and loss of livelihood and building up resilient food systems, such as those to set up a global data facility for the provision of swift information on humanitarian needs, to provide food production assistance and access to food, to organise cash transfers and vouchers or in- kind food distribution, developing linkages with shock-responsive social protection systems, to stabilise food systems, and to ensure the functioning of local food markets, value chains and systems while focusing on smallholder farmers and small-scale fishermen by implementing sanitary measures in order to prevent the transmission of COVID-19;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that global extreme poverty is expected to rise dramatically in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years, especially for children with the COVID-19 pandemic compounding the forces of conflict and climate change and having a particularly hard impact on women and girls with an expected additional 47 million of them living in extreme poverty by 2021 informal and migrant workers (who represent one quarter of the global workforce), the tourism sector and Latin American and Caribbean economies; highlights, against the backdrop of this extreme crisis, the importance of universal social protection; asks the Commission to work out strategies with partner countries for the economic recovery and job creation and for improving social security systems;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that global extreme poverty is expected to rise dramatically in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years, with the COVID-19 pandemic compounding the forces of conflict and climate change and having a particularly hard impact on informal and migrant workers (who represent one quarter of the global workforce), the tourism sector and Latin American and Caribbean economies; highlights, against the backdrop of this extreme crisis, the importance of universal social protection; asks the Commission to work out strategies with partner countries for the economic recovery and job creation and for improving social security systems; , fostering the expansion of social protection coverage to informal workers in rural sectors;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Commission to address the specific needs of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), upholding the guiding principle of public health networks of leaving no-one behind and refraining from blocking front-line humanitarian workers from having direct contact with the migrants and refugees they serve; stresses the absolute need for equal access to COVID-19 treatment and other health services and safety net programmes for all affected people, regardless of nationality, migrant/refugee/IDP status, origin, sex, gender identity or any other characteristic; stresses the importance of supporting refugees and IDPs to address the disproportionate socio-economic impact of the pandemic, by strengthening livelihood support and income-generating activities, and their access to safety;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Commission to address the specific needs of refugees, upholding the guiding principle of public health networks of leaving no-one behind and refraining from blocking front-line humanitarian workers from having direct contact with the migrants and refugees they serve; stresses the absolute need for equal access to COVID-19 treatment and other health services and safety net programmes for all affected people, regardless of nationality, migrant/refugee status, origin, sex, gender identity or any other characteristic; urges the EU and Member States to create the conditions for children and young people in refugee camps to have access to education, including remote learning options, in particular basic learning;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the revision of proposed or existing strategies with the aim of further strengthening public health systems in partner countries, in particular as regards preparedness for pandemics and the organisation and management of health systems, including the provision of universal healthcare, health monitoring and information, training of medical staff, diagnostic capacity and medicine supply;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines the role of health education in preventing and alleviating the impact of pandemic outbreaks and in the preparedness for future public health emergencies; highlights the benefits of sport in addressing the physical and mental health consequences of extended confinement and closure of schools;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the need for urgent action, increased funding and improved coordination of responses on hygienic behaviour and practices as one of the most vital defences to prevent, contain and treat COVID-19; underlines the necessity of reliable supplies of clean water to keep homes, schools, as well as healthcare facilities clean and highlights the importance of access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, services and commodities, because they are key for building resilience to future disease outbreaks; calls on the EU and Member States to significantly increase their funding to WASH as part of their COVID-19 response and to strengthening global resilience against future crises;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the crucial role played by community-led organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs) in delivering health services to the most marginalised and underserved communities; calls on the European Commission to ensure political, financial and technical support to CSOs providing community-based service-delivery, thereby making sure that those who cannot go to health clinics are reached by tailored and appropriate services;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is concerned that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, many governments have used the emergency to justify placing restrictions on democratic processes and the civil space including limiting humanitarian access, and to oppress minorities; draws attention to the growing negative impact of COVID-19 on all human rights, democracy and the rule of law and calls, therefore, for the strengthening of aid, political dialogue and support for civil society and institution- building in all these fields, with particular attention to human rights defenders;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is concerned that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, many governments have used the emergency to justify placing restrictions on democratic processes and the civil space, including limiting humanitarian access and to oppress minorities; draws attention to the growing negative impact of COVID-19 on all human rights, democracy and the rule of law and calls, therefore, for the strengthening of aid, political dialogue and support for institution-building in all these fields, with particular attention to human rights defenders;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Underlines that a state of emergency has negative effects on human rights and fundamental freedoms, and must therefore always be limited in time, duly justified through democratic and legal procedures, proportionate to the emergency and respect the constitutional order and international human rights law; insists that health emergencies should never be used as a pretext to undermine the rule of law, democratic institutions, democratic accountability and judicial control;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Is concerned about the violent attacks on humanitarian and medical personnel and facilities as well as bureaucratic obstacles, such as unclear, changing requirements to permit access or restrictions on staff and vehicle numbers in partner countries; underlines the importance to continue to address these attacks and obstacles on a diplomatic and political level;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Commission and the EU Member States to support parliaments to continue to play an active role in scrutinising government measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and in assessing the human rights implications of public health measures; stresses that the health sector in many countries is prone to corruption and there is a need to strengthen accountability and oversight;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 9
Subheading 9
Education and Digitalisation
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented numbers of pupils missing out on months of schooling, constituting a major set-back to efforts in the education sector especially with regard to girls’ and women’s education; urges governments to use school closures only as a measure of last resort in the fight against the pandemic; supports the continuity of investment in education in humanitarian settings; presses for education to be kept as a spending priority in EU development policy and for due consideration to be given to the social function of schools; urges governments, in this context, to prioritise support for the most marginalised children and their families; recommends to support the actions of UNICEF and that EU countries share their approaches to keeping up teaching even in times of crisis and asks the EU and its Member States to exploit the potential of remote and digital learning in their international support programmes and therefore supports open, secure and affordable access to the internet (including mobile data) and equal access, use and creation of digital technology, with a view to bridging the digital divides including the digital gender and age gaps, and to include those who are disadvantaged or marginalised by the digital transformation;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented numbers of pupils missing out on months of schooling, constituting a major set-back to efforts in the education sector especially with regard to girls’ and women’s education; urges governments to use school closures only as a measure of last resort in the fight against the pandemic; presses for education to be kept as a spending priority in EU development policy and for due consideration to be given to the social and cultural function of schools; urges governments, in this context, to prioritise support for the most marginalised children and their families, since economic and social inequalities are deeply linked to early school leaving and poor performance from early childhood, jeopardizing employability prospects through adulthood; recommends that EU countries share their approaches to keeping up teaching even in times of crisis and asks the EU and its Member States to exploit the potential of remote and digital learning in their international support programmes so that no child is left without education;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Highlights the importance of lifelong learning and re-qualification, also in the long-term after COVID-19, as it will become not only common practice but also a necessary requirement for working citizens, given how rapidly technology develops;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Points out the need to provide support and recognition to teachers, whose pivotal role in education and in building active citizenship has been further underscored by the pandemic; stresses the necessity to invest in teacher training in order to adequately prepare them for new learning models such as e- learning and blended learning, as a requirement to ensure continued education when in-person learning is compromised;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Recalls that the share of education in total development aid has fallen steadily over the last decade; calls on the Member States to invest 10% of their official development assistance in education by 2024 and 15% by 2030, including investment in digital education, infrastructure and connectivity, to address the digital gap that exacerbates socioeconomic disadvantages;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines the importance of assisting and exchanging best practice with partner countries and local civil society organisations in identifying vulnerabilities, building up prevention and crisis response mechanisms as well as protecting critical infrastructure in order better to deal with future systemic shocks of all kinds including a One Health approach at the centre down to the community level in order to prevent or combat zoonoses;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Is concerned that, due to the evolution as regards climate change, extreme whether events will come up on top of the Covid-19 crisis which will put economies, the functioning of states and the provision of humanitarian aid under additional pressure, demands therefore that the recovery strategy must keep track towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; considers further that economic stimulus measures should pave the way towards a zero-carbon and climate-resilient future and calls for the support of conserving seed varieties under the umbrella of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture that help communities to restore varieties after climate change- induced disasters;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Points out that pandemics are often of zoonotic origin; underlines, therefore, the need to support education programmes regarding the dangers of hunting and trading in wild animals as well as the stricter protection and the restoration of ecosystems and habitats;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out that, even in times of crisis, food production and distribution must be an absolute priority; considers that dependence on external sources of food, plants, seeds and fertilisers should be reduced, while local and diversified agricultural production should be increased, and; welcomes in this regard the EU’s support for agroecology which needs to be further strengthened; calls for support to share knowledge about new, old and more resilient seeds sharedagro-ecological seeds;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Underlines that research and innovation (R&I) have been of crucial importance in the global COVID-19 response by developing urgently needed therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics; emphasises that R&I activities need to be steered towards tools that work in low resource settings to allow for a truly global response; emphasises that similar efforts are needed to address existing research and product gaps to fight other epidemics, in particular poverty-related and neglected diseases that affect billions of people worldwide but offer limited market incentives for private sector investments and in order to end the dependence on richer countries as regards their research on diseases that may not directly affect them;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Underlines that investments in the recovery actions need to be responsible in line with the Committee on World Food Security's (CFS) Voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security (VGGTs) and CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems to mitigate climate change and foster resilience of vulnerable populations;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus has to be a priority in the programming of the NDICI in fragile countries; calls on the Commission’s DG ECHO, DG DEVCO and DG DEVCONEAR to implement complementary programmes suited to local contexts and local opportunities, whenever possible, in order to mutually reinforce the different aspects of the nexus;